Home > Press > Sharif University Researchers Receive US Patent on Solar Cells

Abstract:
Researchers at Iran's Sharif University of Technology managed to receive a US patent issued under the title of 'Single-Sided Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Having A Vertical Patterned Structure' and publication number of US20110220192.

Sharif University Researchers Receive US Patent on Solar Cells

Tehran, Iran | Posted on May 6th, 2012

"We have made it to propose a novel structure for the solar cells which can eliminate the unnecessary formation of the conductive glasses - a major cost intensive by-product in course of solar cells manufacturing," Nima Taqavinia, associate professor at Sharif University of Technology, said in an exclusive interview with INIC.

"Dye-sensitized solar cells are a type of nanostructured solar cells whose mechanism is based on light absorption by the pigment molecules plus electron and hole injection to a semiconductor and an electrolyte. This highly resembles the photosynthesis occurring in plants," Taqavinia added, elaborating on the invented dye-sensitized solar cells.

"Our research group is affiliated with the Nanoparticles and Nanocoatings Lab at the Department of Physics of the Sharif University of Technology. Our main mission in the mentioned laboratory is to pave the way for commercialization of the solar cells technology. Concurrent with this project, we are conducting some other researches within the same framework and hope to come up with convenient results soon in the future," he stated.

As for the commercialization and mass production of the solar cells in Iran, Taqavinia believes, "For fabrication of a small panel of solar cells, a large number of layering and heat treatment steps are required. Once regarded from the mass production view point, each of such apparently simple steps demands a great deal of design and operation.

"The production rate, processing cost, cost of the raw materials, and all other parameters impacting the final cost should be low enough for the new product to beat its rivals. Also, the durability and excellence of performance are two of other key factors. As a result, a combination of parameters together with technical novelty can guarantee a promising commercialization. We make our contributions to the different aspects of this development. To materialize such a dream, which is the localization of the solar cells production technology, we need to build a diverse and strong portfolio of the related patents."